The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-12-23


lar day the old weather-beaten house seemed
to invite me within.
Here" I unused, my little Bessie can
obtain glimpse of life the very opposite of
her own joyous existence, and the contrast
can not fail to give her higher apprecia-
ton of the blessings she enjoys"
Accordingly we alighted The kindly
faced matron, who admitted us, on learning
the object of our visit, conducted us at once
to the large, common sitting-room, where
was motley company of people of all ages,
from the palsied old man, apparently on the
verge of the grave, to the infant in arms.
The men and women, all of whom bore
unmistakable marks of helpless decrepitude
or hopeless imbecility, were lowering about
huge, old-fashioned stove in the center of
the room. This, with the several stool
chairs on which they sat. and two long set
tees ranged against the wall, completed its
cherries appointments.
Outside this circle the children diverted
themselves as best they might, their little
feet pattering to and fro over the bare floor
The furious barking of small dog soon at
tracted our attention. He seemed to have
const tuted himself the guardian of frail
little creature, who sat apart on one of the
settees, for he barked the louder the nearer
we approached, never leaving his station at
her side.
"Oh mammal" exclaimed Bessie, in glad
surprise, eff it isn't Fido"
Yes, there could be no mistake. It was
her own little dog, that we had given up
for lost almost a year before. For, on his
collar, precluding the possibility of doubt,
was his name in large, legible characters,
which myself had stamped there.
At the sound of her familiar voice calling
him, he ceased barking and bounded to
meet her, frisking and wagging his tail in
joyful recognition.
Finding herself thus unexpectedly de-
serted, the child on the settee cast fright
ened, appealing look about her and burst
into tears "Don't take him away" she
sobbed Come back, Fido, please come
back. I have no one to love me only you.
AS if comprehending her words and wish
ing to atone for his seeming lack of fidelity,
he turned and in another moment was lick
ing her hands and tear stained face in a
most sympathetic and reassuring manner.
1t was now B 2ssie's turn to be fearful, but
few low-spoken words from me brought
her to realizing sense Of the poor childs
lonely and loveless condition. and with her
this meant self-forge tfulness and generous
wish to help.
CPL give him to you" she said. impul-
sively
sHe is already NINE" replied the child,
evidently wondering at Besse's presump-
ton. Santa Claus sent him to me-"
ooh, obi" CALCULATED Bessie, and then she
led her ON with eager questioning to tell
Lost ,ric cIo
and mamma were out for walk, Fldo had
come straight up to them just as if he knew
them; how he had followed them home,
though mamma would not let her call him,
and how after mamma had taken him back
to the street he had returned and whined
at the door until at last she had opened
it for him and had called him Nellie's
Christmas gift And she, Nellie, had felt
sure that Santa Claus had sent him be-
cause, as mamma had feared he found the
long, winding stairs leading to their room
too steep and toilsome to climb with his
heavy load.
'And where is mamma nows" asked.
Gone to Heaven" And the pale lips
quivered as she spoke.
Deeply moved, 1 turned to the matron
and from her learned all that was known
OIL GHlS, 10 NE, SGrdngely interesting Cnllu.
Her name was Nellie Martin. She had
been brought there some three months be-
fore from comfortless room in tene-
ment house, where her mother had died
leaving her uncared for and alone save for
the companionship oflittle Fido.
By the time this recital was ended Bessie
and its subject, with that freedom from
all conventional restraints characteristic
of children, had become, as it were, old ac-
quantances. Sitting side by side with Fido
stretched across both their laps, they bent
in grave consultation over fragment of
newspaper with which we had found Nellie
engaged, and which now, under their COM
bined efforts, had grown into something
like the semblance of doll Apretty pict-
ure they made, and, as looked at them, I
could not help wishing that all the world
was as free from the trammels Of rank as
they.
Bessie took reluctant leave of Fido and
his adopted mistress, promising to visit
them again soon and bring her new friend